Growing a triple hybrid of russian, siberian and amur sturgeons in a warm-water fish farm

Abstract

Biological and production indices are presented for spawning females of triple hybrid between russian sturgeon, siberian sturgeon and amur sturgeon (RS × SS) × AS and other commercial forms of sturgeon grown in cages of the warm-water fish farm in Luchegorsk, Far East of Russia. In conditions of warm-water pools, survival rate of the triple hybrid larvae and juveniles was higher than that of amur sturgeon and russian-siberian hybrid sturgeon. Weight of the triple hybrid specimens at the age of 3 and 4 years was 1.58 kg and 2.36 kg, respectively, that was higher than that of the russian-siberian hybrid sturgeon and close to the values for amur sturgeon. Fish harvest reached 94 kg/m2 of cage, or 134 kg/m2 of cage in sum with the realized fish. Up to 93 % of females matured after using of hormonal stimulation. The first female of the triple hybrid sturgeon matured at the age of 9 years, with its body weight of 13.1 kg. Other females became matured in different age, up to 16 years, but ¾ of them were matured at the age of 10–12 years. The maximum registered weight of the triple hybrid female was 29 kg (age 14 years). Inter-spawning intervals for 97 % of females were 1–2 years. Average annual yield of hard roe obtained from one female at the age of 9–16 years was 2.28 kg, average weight of one egg was 17.6 mg, average fecundity was 132 . 103 eggs/female or 7.4 . 103 eggs/kg, average oosomatic index was 12.8 %. These values of production indices for the triple hybrid females are mainly intermediate between the indices of initial species. In 3–4 spawning seasons, the yield of 5.25 kg of hard roe, on average, was harvested from one female of the triple hybrid, or 30 % of its body weight. The yield from the most productive females was 10.8–11.0 kg of roe, or 55–73 % of their body weight. These values are lower than the yeild from amur sturgeon but similar to the yield value for russian-siberian hybrid sturgeon. Caviar manufactured from the roe of triple hybrid sturgeon is distinguished by high quality. Its females are technologically advanced for the eggs harvesting and have a good survival, about 98 % during long-term exploitation. So, the triple hybrid of russian, siberian and amur sturgeon can be recommended for commercial cultivation in warm-water sturgeon farms with intensive harvesting.